One-stop-shop for building clearances to be set up soon

Soon, you won't have to run from pillar to post to get the various approvals required for building a house.

A government panel has recommended the setting up of a single window system from where all approvals required for construction can be issued.

Presently, getting construction clearance for housing projects is a nightmarish experience for builders - either individuals or big developers. One has to get 34 kinds of permits from agencies such as municipal corporations, environment and civil aviation ministries before starting work. The entire process takes almost three years.

In its report submitted to housing minister Ajay Maken recently, the panel said an information technology enabled "one-stop shop" should be set up in municipalities. It also recommended a reduction in the number of approvals required as well as the time taken to issue them.

As of now, it takes 196 days to issue building clearances. The panel has recommended reducing it to 60 days.

"An IT-enabled single window system will not only make the entire approval process transparent. It will cut down on delay and check corruption, benefiting both consumers and builders," Maken said. A World Bank study has ranked India 182 in a list of 185 countries on ease of giving building clearances.